The Committee will receive a report plus a briefing regarding the Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Strategy - 2018 - 2023 – To be circulated as part of the Cabinet agenda for the 19^th December, 2018.

The Committee will receive a report plus a briefing regarding the Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Strategy - 2018 – 2023.  It was noted that under the Homelessness Act 2002 all housing authorities must have in place a homelessness strategy. It must be renewed at least every 5 years.  The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) indicates that it is also a requirement due to recent release of its Rough Sleeping Strategy and the Mayor’s Rough Sleeping Plan of action for Local Housing Authorities to have in place a Rough Sleeping Strategy.  The London Borough of Tower Hamlets’ current Housing Strategy had been adopted by the Council in December 2016, and covers a full range of housing issues that included meeting overall housing need, new housing supply including affordable housing, regeneration, the prevention of evictions; tackling poor conditions in the private rented sector; developing access to the private sector rented accommodation and a commitment to partnership working.

The Committee noted that:

• The Service has overall been one of the best within London in spite of the pressures on this service;
• Regarding the quality of temporary accommodation the Service aims to ensure the homes provided are to a certain standard;
• The Council will be joining the Government-funded homelessness scheme that is intended to provide accommodation for homeless people.  Under this scheme Capital Letters, a company being set up by local authorities in London, which will rent or lease properties to move households from temporary accommodation into affordable private rented homes.  The homes will be a mix of private rented sector properties let by the property owner to households nominated by the Council and properties leased directly from landlords or managing agents;
• It was important for those placed in accommodation should in the first instance report any issues regarding repairs to the property to the landlord.  Then if these are not addressed satisfactorily the matter should be escalated to the Council (e.g. heating and ventilation) and that in certain instances people would be moved by the Council into other properties (e.g. those managed by Registered Providers);
• That in 2019 there will be a briefing session for councillors on the delivery of the Strategy;
• Consideration is being given to the feasibility of increasing the utilisation of community facilities (e.g. Mosques and Churches); and
• Whilst there are challenges in finding accommodation given the high rent levels if accommodation is found not to be suitable then the families/individual would be moved to a suitable property that meets the required standards.

In conclusion, Councillor Francis thanked Rafiqul Hoque for his presentation on the Rough Sleeping Strategy and the Mayor’s Rough Sleeping Plan of Action.